“Over the course of my career, I have filed many patents and worked with many attorneys. In fact, I have over a dozen patents in my name. So it is with certainty that I say: They’re not all created equal.

The truth is that patents are expensive. And although they can be of great benefit to you and your business, plenty of patents don’t have any value at all. All of which is to say, it is imperative that you find a patent attorney who has your best interests in mind. If you do, chances are that you will have a long and fruitful relationship.

When and if you have an idea that’s worth filing a patent on, these are the qualities you should look for in a patent attorney.

1. Success. How much experience does this attorney have writing patents that have actually been issued? In other words, what is his or her success rate? In my experience, getting a patent issued is never easy. In fact, it’s a road fraught with unforeseen obstacles. Hiring someone who has the experience to navigate these challenges is key.

2. Command of the written word. I like to say that patent attorneys are only as good as the information you provide them with. Before you hire an attorney, ask to read some of the patent applications he has written. Do you understand what he is saying? If you don’t, it’s unlikely that a judge, jury, or potential licensee will either. A patent only has value when its claims are written clearly and concisely.

3. Litigation experience. I had to defend my patents in federal court, so I truly understand how important it is that the patent attorney you hire to write your claims has experience with litigation. Defending intellectual property ownership is, in essence, a war of words. If you end up having to defend your claims, you will want them to have been written in the most expansive way possible.”